Liverpool’s Arne Slot says football must do more after Vinicius racism allegation
Sign up now: Get the biggest sports news in your inbox
Liverpool manager Arne Slot was speaking ahead of Liverpool's Premier League visit to relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest on Feb 22.
PHOTO: REUTERS
- Real's Vinicius Jr accused Benfica's Prestianni of racism during their Champions League match, leading to an 11-minute halt; UEFA is reviewing the denied charge.
- Liverpool manager Arne Slot urged more action against racism in football, hoping players and referees immediately address incidents, following the recent accusation.
- Slot expects a different Nottingham Forest under new manager Vitor Pereira for Sunday's match; Liverpool has improved recently, being fitter and better at set-pieces.
AI generated
LONDON - Liverpool manager Arne Slot says more needs to be done to avoid racism in football following allegations by Real Madrid’s Brazilian forward Vinicius Jr that he was subjected to racist abuse from Benfica’s Argentine winger Gianluca Prestianni.
Real’s 1-0 Champions League playoff first-leg win at Benfica on Feb 17 was overshadowed by Vinicius accusing Prestianni of directing a racist slur at him, a charge denied by the Portuguese club, the player and their manager Jose Mourinho.
European soccer’s governing body UEFA said it was reviewing the incident, which led to the game being halted for 11 minutes
“In general you can never do enough, you can always do more to make sure this (racism in football) never happens again,” Slot told reporters ahead of Liverpool’s Premier League visit to relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest on Feb 22.
“We have to try as a football community to do more than society does. That’s maybe not so difficult, by the way. Protocol was followed in the game, that’s the first step,” he said on Feb 19. “I would hope my players would act in a similar way - immediately address it, and the referee acts in a similar way.”
Regarding the Forest game, Slot expects a different set-up under the Midlands club’s new manager Vitor Pereira compared to the meeting in November when Liverpool lost 3-0 at Anfield.
Former Wolverhampton Wanderers boss Pereira was appointed on Feb 14 to replace the sacked Sean Dyche.
“We only have tonight (Feb 19) to see if this new manager changes personnel,” Slot said, referring to Forest’s first game under Pereira at Fenerbahce in a Europa League playoff tie.
“The good thing is they have that game, and the manager was in the Premier League last season.”
The Dutchman said Jeremie Frimpong is still out this weekend but fellow defender Joe Gomez is ready to start if needed.
Slot said his side have improved over the past few months, with Liverpool sixth in the table on 42 points from 26 games.
“We have improved compared to three, four months ago. We are in a much better place than months ago,” the 47-year-old added.
“There are more reasons, but the most simple two are how fit we are and that we’re much better at set-pieces at the moment.”
Forest are languishing in 17th spot, one place and three points above West Ham United in the relegation zone. REUTERS
